5 things to watch: Kansas City Royals

Padres manager Bud Black won 10 games for 1985 World Champion Royals

Unwelcome in San Diego

The Kansas City Royals are making a rare trip this week to Petco Park, where wins are even rarer for the middling AL Central franchise. The Padres have won all six match-ups in San Diego – three in 2004 and three in 2011 – and lead the all-time series, 7-2.

/ (AP Photo/Joe Giza)

1

ROYAL REUNION

Padres manager Bud Black is quite familiar with the Royals after pitching for Kansas City for parts of seven seasons after the Royals acquired him from the Seattle Mariners – whom originally drafted the left-handed pitcher in the 17th round in 1979 – to complete their trade for Manny Castillo in March 1982. Three seasons later, Black turned in the best season of his career, going 17-12 with a 3.12 ERA for the AL West champion Royals.

/ (AP Photo/Cliff Schiappa)

2

PLAYOFF DROUGHT

Of course, Padres manager Bud Black (left) also won 10 games in 1985 when the Royals won their first and only World Series in what was also their last trip to the playoffs. Kansas City has finished last or second-to-last in its division in 16 of the last 29 seasons and higher than third just three times. Last year’s 86-76 record was the first time the Royals had even finished above .500 since 2003.

The Associated Press

3

VENTURA COUNTY

Royals pitching prospect Yordano Ventura is off to a fast start – in every sense of the word. The 22-year-old right-hander’s fastball averages 96 mph, tops in the majors, and has reached 100.8 mph this year (it touched 101.9 last year). Better than that, Ventura is second only to the Yankees’ Masahiro Tanaka among rookie pitchers with 31 strikeouts in 30 innings and is third among all starters with a 1.50 earned-run average. Ventura will start Monday.

The Associated Press

4

POWER SHORTAGE

Like the Padres, the Royals leave a lot to be desired in the power department. Through Friday, they ranked 25th in the majors in slugging (.364) and last in home runs with 12 (three fewer than the Padres). 3B Mike Moustakas leads the club with four homers despite a .156/.222/.344 batting line, while 1B Eric Hosmer (pictured) has yet to homer.

The Associated Press

5

INFIRMARY REPORT

Ranked 11th in the majors in team ERA (3.48) through Friday’s games, Kansas City’s pitching staff will have to get by without one key members of the bullpen. RHP Luke Hochevar is out for the year with Tommy John surgery, while LHP Tim Collins (left elbow strain) was only recently activated from the disabled list. RHP Bruce Chen (pictured) will miss the series with a bulging disc in his lower back, while CF Lorenzo Cain (groin) is on a rehab assignment in the minors.